European alert as Australian bikies expand

Reporter

AUSTRALIAN bikie gangs are aggressively expanding overseas and creating havoc for international authorities who fear violent inter-group conflicts and a boost in drug and arms trafficking.

A memo circulated by the European law enforcement agency, Europol, said the arrival of the Rebels and the Comancheros was causing tension with established outlaw motorcycle gangs in Europe.

The increasing concentration of gangs in Europe has the potential to escalate into extreme violence akin to the Nordic biker wars of the 1990s, in which 11 people were murdered and 96 people wounded, the extensive briefing warned.

''At present, the majority of violent incidents are reportedly occurring within the context of territorial disputes between different OMCGs, as well as rivalries with local organised criminals and street gangs,'' it said.

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The head of Australia's national anti-bikie taskforce, Detective Superintendent John De Candia, said it was a ''big problem'' for police at home because gangs were opening chapters in strategic locations along drug, arms and human trafficking routes.

''They're not going over there to simply ride their bikes, they're going to open up opportunities to get drugs and firearms back to Australia,'' he said.

Gangs are taking advantage of countries with lax laws and easy access to illegal drugs and firearms.

Senior members are travelling to Malta, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and Thailand to establish chapters using existing contacts or by ''patching over'' existing clubs.

''They engage and conduct their business just like any other criminal organisation - they look for whatever weaknesses exist in the law enforcement or governments and exploit those through violence and extortion,'' Superintendent De Candia said.

This month, Fairfax Media reported that Australian bikie gangs including the Rebels and Bandidos were increasing their presence in Bali, while several others are believed to be showing more interest in the region.

One senior New South Wales police officer said police were powerless to stop the spread of gangs overseas.

''There's certainly a network that is expanding and we've got evidence of high-ranking Rebels going overseas to open club chapters then coming back home,'' the source said. ''But we can't prevent them travelling over there unless they've done something to keep them here.''

The Rebels are thought to have about 1500 members in Australia and dozens busy establishing outposts overseas.

The Comancheros have also developed strong ties in Spain. The gang's former boss, Daux Ngakuru, relocated there in 2010 and it is believed the alleged drug smuggler Hakan Ayik, who is closely aligned to the gang, has been hiding out in Spain since fleeing Australia in 2010 while on bail on heroin importation charges.

Ayik has also been accused of setting up a ''super'' drug lab in India. An associate of his, Hakan Arif, reportedly travelled to Spain this year while on bail for drugs charges.

Europol said the number of bikie gang chapters in Europe had increased at a ''significant rate'' in the past two years to more than 700.

The arrival of gangs from Canada and the US has contributed to tension with Europe's four main gangs - the Hells Angels, Bandidos, Outlaws and Gremium MC - and growing local groups such as Satudarah Maluku MC and Blue Angels MC in north-western Europe.

''Merely establishing a chapter on the 'turf' of another OMCG is interpreted as an act of provocation and is likely to result in violent confrontations and retaliation,'' Europol warned.